Dimethicone
A silicone that gives creams, primers and sunscreens their silky slip, smooths the look of skin and helps seal in moisture.
dimethicone, polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS, silicone, silicones, dimethiconol, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer
Dry & dehydrated skin · Texture & large pores · Sensitive skin
What it does
A commonly used ingredient, dimethicone is a silicone (a silicon-based polymer) which is added to a number of common products including primers and hair conditioners. It gives products a slippery feeling and allows them to be applied more easily. It is a linear silicone, not one of the cyclic silicones, such as cyclopentasiloxane, that some clean-beauty brands avoid for environmental reasons.
How it works
Dimethicone helps reduce water loss by forming a thin, breathable film on the skin’s surface. In skincare, it is praised for its ability to seal in moisture, leaving a smooth, silky finish, and it can temporarily blur the look of fine lines and uneven texture, which is why it features in so many primers.
MG says
Dimethicone is one of the most widely used ingredients in skincare. This silicone smooths the skin and hair, and is most commonly employed in conditioners, moisturisers and makeup to give a luxurious texture, slip and silky finish. Because silicones can form a barrier on the skin, be mindful of layering actives over them: apply your serums and treatments first, and silicone-rich creams, primers and sunscreens after.
Cautions
Dimethicone is very well tolerated and rarely irritates or clogs pores, which is why it is common in formulas for sensitive skin. Apply active serums before silicone-rich products so the film doesn’t get in their way, and cleanse thoroughly at night after silicone primers, sunscreens and makeup.
